<span title="Mechanical/electromagnetic">Mechanical/electromagneti...</span> wave questions

Question

1. Define a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave. How are they different? How are they alike?

2. In what ways are electromagnetic spectrum beneficial to humans?

please help me i really need these questions answered.!

Answer 1

Mechanical waves are the oscillations of a material created by an initial energy.

Electromagnetic waves are self-oscillatory waves that move through a vacuum or a medium.

Similarities: Both types of waves have a wavelength, frequency, and speed.

Differences: EM waves can travel through a vacuum, but a mechanical wave cannot. Mechanical waves can only exist in a medium, such as air or water. EM waves behave like waves and particles, but mechanical waves only behave like waves.

Humans require the electromagnetic spectrum for many things. Visible light enables us to see the world around us. X-rays enable us to see things that normal light cannot penetrate. Microwaves are needed to transmit information. Thermal infrared (heat) is what warms us and everything else.